The Teacher and the Beauty

Near Kovno, in a Latvian village, lived a G-d-fearing Jewish innkeeper and his daughter, Sarah—known for both her beauty and modesty. Despite her appearance, she remained humble, deeply committed to her faith and family.

One day, the young son of a wealthy local nobleman stopped by the inn. Enchanted by Sarah, he asked to marry her. Sarah firmly refused, even when he returned with news that his father approved—on the condition she convert to Christianity. Again, she declined.

Angered by the rejection, the nobleman’s father wrote a letter demanding the innkeeper agree to the marriage. The young noble set out with friends to deliver it—but was delayed by a storm and took refuge at a nearby inn. There, he read the letter aloud, boasting of his plan.

Listening quietly from the corner was Reb Yosef, the village melamed (teacher). Realizing what was about to happen, he rushed to warn Sarah’s family. His advice was clear: “She must marry immediately or be taken by force.”

“But who will she marry?” asked her father. “There’s no young man here.”

“I will,” said Reb Yosef. “I’m no longer young, and I’m a widower. But I will stand under the chuppah with her to save her life. Once the danger passes, we’ll go to the rabbinical court in Kovno and arrange a proper divorce.”

The plan was accepted, and that very night, a rushed but kosher wedding took place. When the noble arrived, he found a wedding celebration in full swing—he was too late. Sarah was now a married woman.

Stunned, he left in defeat. Reb Yosef stood up and said, “This was a salvation from Heaven. Now that the threat is gone, I’ll arrange a divorce so Sarah can live freely again.”

But Sarah replied, “No. Hashem brought us together. He risked his life to save me. I will stay with my husband.”

A year later, they had a son—Reb Aryeh Leib, who became known throughout the Jewish world as Reb Labe Sarah’s, named for his mother, the righteous Sarah. He often told the story of his parents’ marriage, holding it up as a shining example of Jewish strength, sacrifice, and faith.